US2872130A

US2872130A - Aircraft-type winches

Info

Publication number: US2872130A
Application number: US620995A
Authority: US
Inventors: Romeo M Nardone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-11-08
Filing date: 1956-11-08
Publication date: 1959-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-03

Description

3, 1 R. M. NARDONE 2,872,130

AIRCRAFT-TYPE WINCHES Filed Nov. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tjcll ||||||||I l l lllllll-ll H IN VEN TOR. ROMEO NLNAR DONE ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1959 R. M. NARDONE 2,87 3

AIRCRAFT-TYPE WINCHEJS Filed Nov. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROMEO M. NARDONE ATTORNEY 1959 R. M. NARDONE 2,872,130

AIRCRAFT-TYPE WINCHES Filed Nov. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1959 R. M. NARDONE 2,872,130

AIRCRAFT-TYPE WINCHES Filed Nov. 8, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III/II INVENTOR. ROMEO M- NARDONE A TTORNEY United Stats The invention relates to new and useful improvements in winches, and is more particularly directed to a winch construction useful for rescue purposes on aircraft or the like where space is limited and weight must be kept to a minimum.

An object of the invention is to provide a winch construction which is compact, relatively light in weight, and comparatively small in size for the loads which it may effectively support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winch with a cable drum constructed to house or contain a substantial part of the drive mechanism for rotating the drum, and thereby conserve space.

. I Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism. for the level winding or spooling of the cable onto the drum, the mechanism being related to the drum in a manner so that it is actuated by the same drive mechanism which rotates the drum.

Still a further'object of the invention is to provide an improved tension control device for the cable, the device being small, compact, and serving to control the movement of the cable at a predetermined rate when the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the device additionally being responsive to the speed of rotation of the drum in unreeling direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tension control means combined in a novel manner with the mechanism for level winding of the cable on the drum so that the tension control device travels with the level winding mechanism as the latter traverses its path in the winding or unwinding of the cable onto or from the drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a winch including a drum, an associated level winding mechanism and an associated tension control device in which the drum, level winding mechanism and tension device are related to coact with each other in a novel manner and all operate from a common or single drive mechanism, the drive mechanism being so situated in relation to the various parts of the entire assembly as to aiford an extremely compact winch unit.

These, and other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing one side of the winch made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, also partly broken away and in section, showing the opposite side of the winch;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1;

atent O 2,372,130 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of the-winch as viewed in Fig. 1 showing switch means for. stopping rotation of the drum when the cable is at or near its end upon unreeling;

Fig. 7 shows the ratchet wheel and pawl arrangement as viewed approximately in the plane of line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Generally, the winch of my invention is constructed to provide a drum A upon which may be wound (or from which is unreeled) a rope or cable B in adjacent turns or wraps in a plurality of level layers with the same number of wraps in each layer by a level-winding mechanism C. The drum is so constructed, and the drive mechanism for rotating the drum is so related to the drum, that the drum itself serves to substantially house the drive mechanism for rotating the drum. In the preferred form of the invention, a tensioncontrol means D is associated with the level wind mechanism C to travel therewith, the tension control means being constructed to maintain a load on the cable, or limitits rate of movement, as the cable is unreeled without any working load thereon, thereby preventing any undue slack in the cable which may cause it to become entangled. The tension control means is positively actuated by means responsive to the drums rotation in'runwinding direction, the control means being selectively inoperative during rotation of the drum in winding direction.

In greater detail, and referring to Fig. 3 for a preferred form of the invention, the winch comprisesthe drum A mounted on, and secured'for rotation with, a drum support shaft 10. The drum is hollow and cupshaped in form, being open at one side and' provided with a side wall 12 at its other side. The side wall is provided with a central aperture 13 through which extends one end of the shaft 10. The shaft is provided with an integrally formed radially extending flange 14, which is fastened to the side wall 12 by four (4) circumferential, equidistantly-spaced, headed stud bolts 16. The shanks of the stud bolts extend into the interior of the drum for an additional purpose to be described. The ends of the drum support shaft are journaled in spaced ball bearings 18 and 20. The bearing 18 is mounted within an inwardly extending apertured web portion 22 of a main housing 24 for the winch. The bearing 20 is mounted within a housing cover 26, which is fastened to the housing by screws 28.

The drive mechanism for imparting rotation to the drum A is disposed substantially in its entirety within the hollow, cup-shaped drum. As shown in Fig. 3, a suitable source of power, for example, a hydraulic motor 30, is used to furnish the torque or power to rotate a pinion shaft 32. The shaft is journaled in spaced

roller bearings

34 and 36, which are supported within an aperture internal gear 42. The internal gear is provided with an inturned circumferential flange 44, which enables securing the gear to a radially extending, circumferential flange 46 formed on an acme-type nut 48 by means of circumferentially spaced rivets 50. The nut, which is also part of a suitable brake mechanism, for example, of the Weston type, is in threaded engagement around a screw 52. The screw is provided with a radially extending flange 54 permitting the mounting on the nut, and disposition between the radial flanges of the screw and not, of a ratchet wheel 56. Rings 58 and 58' of friction material are secured to opposite faces of the ratchet wheel and bear against the inside faces of the nut and screw flanges. A pawl 60 is mounted on a pivot pin 62, the pin being secured to an inturned shoulder 64 formed on a second internal gear 66. As shown in Fig. 7, a leaf spring 68 has one end thereof fastened to the pawl and the other end bearing against the inner wall of the drum to resiliently urge the pawl against the ratchet wheel. The internal gear 66 is provided with an outwardly extending, radial flange 70 permitting the gear to be secured to a portion of the housing cover 26 by circumferentially spaced screws 72, and thus made stationary. Four planet gears 74, each mounted-on the inner end of each of the aforementioned headedstuds 16 have their teeth in meshing engagement with the teeth of the internal gear 66.

Each'planet gear preferably is mounted on ball bearings 76 supported on the stud. The gears 74 also are in meshing engagement with a sun pinion 78 rotatable with the screw 52, and preferably formed integrally therewith. Asealing ring 80 is firmly pressed between the outer wall of the internal gear 66 and the inner wall of the drum to provide an oil seal, thereby permitting the described elements to be contained within an oil bath for smooth operation. The ends of the screw 52 are journaled in ball bearings 82 and 82, the former being mounted Within the drum side wall aperture 13 adjacent the sun pinion, and the latterbe'ing mounted in a recess formed in the housing cover-26 and adjacent the bearings 20 for the drum support shaft.

When torque is applied by the motor 30 to wind the cable Tonto the drum, the pinion shaft 32 rotates the pinion 40, which turns the nut 48 through the intermediate internalgear 42. The nut causes the screw 52 to rotate, thereby revolving the drum through the sun pinion 78 and the planet gears 74. As the drum is rotated, the

ratohed wheel 56 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, as indicated in Fig. 7, the spring pressed pawl 60 ratcheting over the teeth of the wheel. Rotation of the ratchet wheel, and the drum, in opposite-direction when a load is on the cable is prevented by the pawls engagement with the steep sides of the teeth on the ratchet wheel.

The drum A is provided with a radial flange 84, extending parallel to the side wall 12, through which is passed a setscrew 86 for cooperation with an undercut portion 88 for anchoring the end of the cable B. The opposite side of the drum is provided with a radial flange 90, parallel'to the flange 84, to which is secured a gear 92 for a purpose to be subsequently described. The gear is provided with a central aperture of a size so that the edge of the hollow drum extends therethrough. The cable B is wound onto the drum within the confines of the side flanges 84 and 90.

In order to wind orspool the cable onto the drum uniformly in layers with the same number of close turns or wraps in each layer, the traveling cable guide or level wind mechanism C has movement imparted thereto by means actuated by the same drive mechanism for rotating the drum. Such means is located outside of the drum, but closely adjacent thereto.

As shown in Fig. 3, the end of the drum supporting shaft 10 has a pinion 94 secured thereto, which engages and drives a pair of planet gears 96 and 96,-spaced with theirv centers 180 apart. The gears are each mounted for rotation about studs 98 and 98', there being ball bearings 100 "and 100', provided 'at their respective centers for smooth rotation of the gears. Opposite the side of each gear 96 and 96, where it meshes with the pinion 94, it is disposed in meshing engagement With a fixed internal gear 102. The gear 102 is held stationary by connecting spaced screws 104 which extend through the web portion 22 of the housing 24 and an inturned flange 106 formed adjacent the toothed portion on the internal gear. The ends of the

studs

98 and 98 are fixedly secured to means for actuating the level-winding mechanism C, or within the back face of a cam 108. The front of the cam is provided with a central apertured boss 109 within which is secured a pin 110 having at its outer end a pinion 112 for a purpose to be subsequently described.

The cam 108 is a constant velocity cam and has a groove formed in the front face thereof to receive a cam follower 116. As shown in Fig. l, the cam follower is mounted on the end of an arm 118 of a bell crank 120 by a pin 122. The bell crank is fulcrumed on a pin 124, the pin being mounted to extend through a bearing rotatably supported between the housing 24 and the inwardly extending web 22 thereof (Fig. 3). The arm 126 of the bell crank is provided at its end with a gear segment 128, which is in meshing engagement with a pinion 130. As shown in Fig. 4, the pinion is supported in

end bearings

132 and 132 supported in the main housing 24, and a gear 134 is secured to the pinions shaft so that the pinion and gear will rotate together. The gear 134 meshes with an idler gear 136, which in turn engages and drives a second pinion 138. This pinion is secured to the end of a ball bearing type of traversing screw 140. The screw has its endsjournaled in spaced roller bearings 142 and 142' supported in recesses formed in the housing 24 and the housing cover 26, respectively. The traversing screw extends parallel to the drum support shaft 10. A traveling nut 144 receives the screw 140, the nut being preferably formed on its inside diameter with a helical groove within which are disposed a plurality of ball bearings which are spaced apart the pitch of the groove.

The ball bearings are also disposed within the external thread groove of the screw so that the nut will travel on the screw with screw 140. The shaft has its ends journaled in the main housing 24 and the housing cover 26. The main housing is provided at its bottom with an opening or slot 154 (Fig. 2), so that the cable may pass through this opening as the cable guide housing 150 moves linearly parallel to the width of the drum as the cable is being wound or unwound. The housing may be provided with a suitable eye through which the cable is passed so that the cable is spooled onto the drum in adjacent turns and level layers of turns by the described linearly traveling nut and traversing screw arrangement. Suitable means is provided for controlling the tension on the cable during unreeling, and it is preferable to associate the tension control means with the level-winding mechanism.

From the described relationship of the parts, it will be apparent that rotation of the cam 108 causes the arm 126 of the bell crank 120 to oscillate up and down as viewed in Fig. 1. This motion causes the pinion 130, through the medium of the gear segment 128, to rotate first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. During one half of a revolution of the cam, the pinion 139 is rotated in one direction and during the second half of the cams revolution, the pinion is rotated in the reversed direction. Gear ratios are selected so that when the pinion is rotated in bne direction to its fullest extent, the traveling nut 144 travels linearly the length of the screw 140 in one direction to wind a full layer of adjacent turns of cable onto the drum, and when the direction of rotation of the pinion 130 is reversed and the pinion rotated the same number of revolutions, the nuts travel is reversed so that the level-wind mechanism winds a second layer of adjacent turns or wraps of the cable onto the drum. Thus, for a given drum diameter, cable diameter, and length of cable, the described gear train and linkage may be designed to wrap a given number of turns of cable on the drum in a desired number of level layers.

In the preferred form of the invention, the tension control means or device D is directly associated with, and, in fact, contained within the housing 150 for the level-winding mechanism C. The tension control device is constructed to maintain a desired and sufiicient load upon the cable during unreeling, when there may be no load on the cable, thereby preventing the cable from running off the drum at an unduly rapid rate and causing tangling. Tension is applied to the cable during unreeling by means :actuated from or by the rotating drum itself to thereby eliminate the need for an additional source of power.

As shown in Fig. 5, the level wind mechanism housing .150 has supported therein a pair of friction rolls 156 and .158 which together provide a bight for the cable B. Both .rolls are covered with sleeves of suitable friction material, .such as rubber, bonded to the underlying metal roll for the major length of each of the rolls. The friction roll .156 comprises a hollow, annular hub mounted on a bushing-160 which surrounds the guide shaft 152. The location of the roll 156 within the housing is fixed by shims 1162 and 162 surrounding the shaft 152 and bearing against opposite ends of the bushing 160. The friction roll 158 is rotatably mounted within the housing 150 by having its shaft 164 journaled in spaced

roller bearings

166 and 166 supported in the housing. The ends of

rolls

156 and 158, adjacent the sleeves of friction material, are provided with friction roll gears 167 and 170, respectively, the gears being in meshing engagement with each other. In order to apply tension to the cable as the cable isbeing unreeled without load, the aforementioned gear 92, which is secured to rotate with the drum, is utilized to control the speed of rotation of the friction rolls and the tension applied to the cable.

As shown in Fig. 5, the gear 92 engages and drives a pinion 172. The pinion which is mounted for rotation about a shaft 174 is formed at one axial end with one-way ratchet teeth 176. The ratchet portion of the pinion coacts with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 178 splined to the shaft 174 for axial movement thereon. The ratchet wheel is resiliently urged axially along the shaft toward the pinion by a coiled spring 180, one end of the spring bearing against a shoulder provided on the ratchet wheel, the other end of the spring bearing against an annular plate 182 surrounding the shaft. The shaft 174 extends across width of the winch, and has the ends thereof journaled in '

roller bearings

184 and 184 mounted in suitable recesses formed in the main housing 24 and the housing cover 26, respectively. A hollow sleeve-like friction roll driving gear 186 having substantial length in an axial direction is mounted to surround the shaft 174. The gear 186 has a length which will permit the friction roll gear 170 to remain in meshing engagement therewith throughout the friction rolls length of linear travel as it is conveyed back and forth along the traversing screw 148 by the traveling nut 144. The gear 186 is secured to an annular washer element 188 surrounding the shaft adjacent the pinion 172, and the other end of the gear is fastened to a hub-like element 190 which is mounted on the shaft; The mounting of the friction roll driving gear is such that the gear is rotatable with respect to the shaft.

plutch plates, with the inner plates 192 fastened to the periphery of the shaft are arranged to coact with adjacent outer plates 194 fastened to the inside periphery of the gear. A'coiled compression spring 196 is disposed around the shaft, with one end of the spring bearing against the end of the hub element and the other end-of the spring hearing against the end plate of the set of clutch plates. The clutch is set to slip at a desired value by selecting a spring 196 which will apply the desired amount of pressure between the clutch plates.

With the foregoing selective drive and clutch arrangement, when the drum is rotated to unreel the cable without any load thereon, the drum gear 92 rotates the pinion 172. For this direction of rotation the teeth on the pinion and the ratchet wheel coact to cause rotation of the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel being splined to the shaft 174 causes the shaft to rotate, and through the medium of the described coacting

clutch plates

192 and 194, the friction roll driving gear 186 is rotated. The gear, which is in meshing engagement with the friction roll gear 17 0 for the entire length of travel of its associated friction roll, drives or rotates both friction rolls 156 and 158 at the same speed but in opposite directions. The gear train is designed so that the rate of rotation of the friction rolls is slightly greater than the rate of movement of the cable as it is being unwound from the drum. As a result, the friction rolls apply tension to the cable as it is being unreeled. To avoid undue wear of the friction material on the faces of the friction rolls, the pressure applied by the spring 196 to the

plates

192 and 194 of the slip clutch is selected at a desired amount in order to furnish a desired rate of rotation of the friction rolls, which will not result in an excessive amount of tension upon the cable.

When the cable is being wound on the drum, the gear 92 rotates the pinion 172. However, torque is not transmitted to the ratchet 178 because the inclination of the ratchet teeth is opposite to the direction in which they may transmit torque. As a result, the ratchet does not act to rotate the shaft 174 and with it, through the slip clutch, the friction roll driving gear 186. Thus, during rotation of the drum in cable winding direction, the friction rolls are rotated by the movement of the cable through the bight of the rolls. The friction roll gears 168 and 170, therefore, are rotated in a direction oppo site to their direction of rotation during unreeling, the latter rotating the gear 186 in a direction opposite to its direction of drive. The friction rolls now rotate at a speed equal to the reeling-in speed of the cable on the drum. 1

Means is provided to stop the rotation of the drum when the cable is fully wound thereon. For this purpose, the end of the cable has secured thereto a bumper element 200. As shown in Fig. 2, when the cable is fully reeled in, the bumper element engages a contact lever 202 secured to a shaft 204 causing the shaft to rotate. As shown in Fig. 4, the shaft is mounted adjacent the traversing screw 148 and extends parallel thereto. The opposite end of the shaft is provided with a lever 206. The lever 286 may be provided with an adjustable set screw 208 to engage and open a switch 218 (Fig. l), and through a suitable electrical circuit and valve arrangement, such as is well known in the art, stop the motor 30. As soon as the unreeling of the cable begins, the switch is reclosed. A spring 211 may be provided to normally urge the arm assembly in its down position.

The bumper contact arm 202 is made of a length so that the bumper will engage it at any point along the width of the drum. Normally, for a given length of cable the bumper will always be positioned at the same point with respect to the drum.. However, if for some reason the cable is shortened, the bumper may come to rest at a different position, and in such case the length of the arm 2112 enables the switch to be opened to stop the motor regardless of the location of the bumper across the width of the drum.

Means is provided for stopping rotation of the drum when the cable is fully unreeled or substantially so. If desired, such means may be actuated when there are but two or three turns left on the drum. As shown in Fig. 6, this is accomplished by providing a down" switch 212 which is responsive to the rotation of the means for actuating .the level-wind mechanism. The aforementioned pinion 112 secured to the, cam 108 to rotate therewith engages a gear 214. The gear is mounted to rotate about a stud 216 supported within a plate suspended from the main housing 24, the plate being secured to the main housing by screws 218. This plate also serves to provide a support for a roller bearing 220 for the boss 109 of the cam 108. The gear 214 has fastened thereto a lug 222 for engagement with a contact element 224 of the switch 212. The gear ratios of the pinion 112 and the gear 214 are selected so that the gear 214 will make less than one complete revolution, for example, three fourths of a revolution, during the several revolutions made by the cam 188 during the full winding or unwinding of the cable from the drum. The switch 212 is part of a circuit, well known in the art, to stop the motor.

' Another aspect of the invention resides in the provision of means to sever the cable in the event that conditions may require jettisoning. the load on the cable. For this purpose, a cartridgefired guillotine assembly 226 is proyided. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8, the stretch of the cable between the drum and the friction rolls passes over an anvil 228. The anvil is suitably mounted on the housing 156 for the level wind mechanism and tension control device. A plunger 230 is positioned on, the opposite side of the cables path, and to the rear of the plunger a powder charge may be positioned within the barrel opening 232. The charge may be electrically ignited to thereby discharge the plunger toward the anvil and cut the cable. The cable severing means being mounted for movement with the means for level-winding or guiding the cable enables severing of the cable anywhere along its length regardless of the position of the cable widthwise of the drum.

The wires for the electrical circuits to actuate the switches 210 and 212, and for igniting the charge in the described cable severing device are all brought out to a conveniently located electrical connector or conduit 234 mounted on the side of the main housing 24, as shown in Fig. 1.

it is believed that the advantages and improved results of the described structure will be apparent from the foregoing description. The means for guiding the cable to level-wind the cable onto the drum may include or constitute the friction rolls or means for applying tension to the cableas described, thereby achieving a substantial measure of compactness, particularly since guiding and the application of tension are both accomplished by means which are responsive to the rotation of the drum. While it is preferred to provide a cable-receiving drum constructed to substantially contain the drive mechanism therefor, and to utilize the rotation of the drum for the actuation of the level-winding mechanism as well as the cable tensioning device, it is within thescope of the invention to utilize the described combination of a cablereceiving drum and related tension device, apart from the level-winding mechanism and the means for actuating same as specifically described, It will also be apparent that while the invention has been shown in a preferred form, changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a levelwvinding mechanism for winding the cable onto the drum .in adjacent turns and level layers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, cable-guide means connected to said nut and movable therewith, and means responsive to the rotation of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction comprising a cam located on the axis of the drum support shaft and rotated thereby and a linkage between the cam and the traversing screw for rotating the screw first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

2. A winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a level-winding mechanism for winding the cable onto the drum in adjacent turns and level layers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, means responsive to the rotation of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and a pair of cable-engaging friction rolls mounted for linear movement with said nut, said friction rolls being driven by means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction, said means rotating the friction rolls to unreel the cable at a rate greater than the rate the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the means responsive to the rotation of the drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction comprising a cam rotated by the drum support shaft and a linkage between the cam and the traversing screw for rotating the screw first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

3. A winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a level-winding mechanism for winding the cable onto the drum in adjacent turns and level layers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, means responsive to the rotation of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and a pair of cableengaging friction rolls mounted for linear movement with said nut, said friction rolls being driven by means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction, said means rotating the friction rolls to unreel the cable at a rate greater than the rate the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction for driving the friction rolls comprising a gear secured to the drum for rotation therewith, said drum gear engaging a pinion mounted on a shaft for rotation with respect therewith, said pinion being provided with one way rachet teeth at an end thereof, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft for cooperation with the ratchet teeth on the pinion, a friction roll driving gear mounted on the shaft having a length axially of the shaft not less than the length of travel of the friction rolls along the traversing screw, a friction roll gear secured to each of the friction rolls and in meshing engagement with each other, one of said 'frictionl roll gears being in engagement with said friction roll driving gear, and a slip clutch provided between said shaft and said friction roll driving gear, said slip clutch being adjustable to transmit the desired amount of torque to the friction rolls.

4. A winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a level-winding mechanism for winding the cable onto the drum in adjacent turns and level layers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, means responsive to the rota tion of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and a pair of cable-engaging friction rolls mounted for linear movement with said nut, said friction rolls being driven by means re sponsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction, said means rotating the friction rolls to unreel the cable at a rate greater than the rate the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the means responsive to the rotation of the drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction comprising a cam rotated by the drum support shaft and a linkage between the cam and the traversing screw for rotating the screw first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and the means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction for driving the friction rolls comprising a gear secured to the drum for rotation therewith, said drum gear engaging a pinion mounted on a shaft for rotation with respect therewith, said pinion being provided with one way ratchet teeth at an end there of, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft for cooperation with the ratchet teeth on the pinion, a friction roll driving gear mounted on the shaft having a length axially of the shaft not less than the length of travel of the friction rolls along the traversing screw, a friction roll gear secured to each of the friction rolls and in meshing engagement with each other, one of said friction roll gears being in engagement with said friction roll driving gear, and a slip clutch provided between said shaft and said friction roll driving gear, said slip clutch being adjustable to transmit the desired amount of torque to the friction rolls.

5. A winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a level-winding mechanism for winding the cable onto the drum in adjacent turns and level layers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, means responsive to the rotation of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and a pair of cable-engaging friction rolls mounted for linear movement with said nut, said friction rolls being driven by means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction, said means rotating the friction rolls to unreel the cable at a rate greater than the rate the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the means responsive to the rotation of the drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction comprising a cam rotated by the drum support shaft and a linkage between the cam and the traversing screw for rotating the screw first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, the cam being provided with means for stopping the rotation of the drum when the drum has been rotated to fully unreel the cable; and the means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction for driving the friction rolls comprising a gear secured to the drum for rotation therewith, said drum gear engaging a pinion mounted on a shaft for rotation with respect therewith, said pinion being provided with one way ratchet teeth at an end thereof, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft for cooperation with the ratchet teeth 10 on the pinion, a friction roll driving gear mounted on the shaft having a length axially of the shaft not less than the length of travel of the friction rolls along the traversing screw, a friction roll gear secured to each of the friction rolls and in meshing engagement with each other, one of said friction roll gears being in engagement with said friction roll driving gear, and a slip clutch provided between said shaft and said friction roll driving gear, said slip clutch being adjustable to transmit the desired amount of torque to the friction rolls.

6. A winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a level-winding mechanism for winding the cable onto the drum in adjacent turns and level layers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, means responsive to the rotation of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and a pair of cable-engaging friction rolls mounted for linear movement with said nut, said friction rolls being driven by means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction, said means rotating the friction rolls to um'eel the cable at a rate greater than the rate the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the means responsive to the rotation of the drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction comprising a cam rotated by the drum support shaft and a linkage between the cam and the traversing screw for rotating the screw first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, the cam being provided with means for stopping the rotation of the drum when the drum has been rotated to fully unreel the cable; and the end of the cable being provided with a bumper element for cooperation with means for stopping the rotation of the drum when the cable is fully wound thereon, said means being mounted adjacent the traversing screw and extending substantially the length thereof, whereby the drum is stopped at any position of the end of the cable across the width of the drum.

7. A Winch comprising a substantially hollow, cablereceiving drum, said drum being mounted on a drum support shaft for rotation therewith, drive means substantially contained within the drum for rotating the shaft, a level-winding mechanism for Winding the cable onto the drum in adjacent turns and levellayers, said mechanism comprising a traversing screw mounted adjacent said drum and extending parallel to said shaft, a traveling nut cooperating with said screw for linear movement lengthwise of the screw, means responsive to the rotation of said drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and a pair of cable-engaging friction rolls mounted for linear movement with said nut, said friction rolls being driven by means responsive to the rotation of the drum in unreeling direction, said means rotating the friction rolls to unreel the cable at a rate greater than the rate the cable is being unreeled from the drum, the means responsive to the rotation of the drum support shaft in one direction for imparting movement to said nut first in one direction and then in the opposite direction comprising a cam rotated by the drum support; shaft and a linkage between the cam and the traversing screw for rotating the screw first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; the means responsive tothe rotation of the drum in unreeling direction for driving the friction rolls comprising a gear secured to the drum for rotation therewith, said drum gear engaging a pinion mounted on a shaft for rotation with respect therewith, said pinion being provided with one way ratchet teeth at an end thereof, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft fol? 1:1 cooperation with the ratchet teeth on -the pinion, a friction roll driving gear mounted on the shaft having a length axially of the shaft not less than the length of travel of the friction rolls along the traversing screw, a friction roll gear secured to each of the friction rolls and in meshing engagement with each other, one of said friction roll gears being in engagement with said friction roll driving gear, and a slip clutch provided between said shaft and said friction roll driving gear, said slip clutch being adjustable to transmit the desired amount of torque to the friction rolls; and the end of the cable bein provided with a bumper element for cooperation with means for stopping the rotation of the drum when the cable is fully wound thereon, said means being mounted adjacent the traversing screw and extending substantially the length 15 thereof, whereby the'drum is stopped at any position of the end of the cable across the width of the drum.

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